Orcadian Column, 16 January 2024

I hope 2025 has started well for you and continues in a similar vein. In political terms, it’s set to be another busy year at Holyrood, where attention will increasingly turn to the forthcoming Scottish Parliament election due in May 2026.

Returning to parliament last week, the new year found me on all too familiar territory. My first contribution in the Chamber was a question to the Transport Secretary, Fiona Hyslop highlighting the need for further support in the budget to unlock the process of procuring desperately needed replacement vessels for Orkney’s internal ferry fleet.

The Scottish Government published its draft budget shortly before Christmas. After weeks of constructive discussions with Scottish Liberal Democrats, the draft reflects many of our priorities, including restored funding for housing and mental health as well as a more realistic settlement for local councils. There was also a welcome uplift in funding for ferry services in the Northern Isles.

This is certainly a positive step forward, but as I explained to Ms Hyslop, the funding earmarked is insufficient to allow the procurement of new ferries to get underway. Building on the work carried out by Scottish Government and OIC in the so-called ferries task force, there is now a unique opportunity finally to break the logjam on this issue. But time is of the essence. The current fleet is no longer fit for purpose, meaning the cost of non-replacement as well as replacement is only set to spiral ever higher. Responding to me on Thursday, the Transport Secretary agreed, hopefully increasing the likelihood of the funding gap being closed before parliament votes on the final version of the budget next month.

The prospects for the budget in that vote have certainly improved, following Anas Sarwar’s announcement last Tuesday that Scottish Labour will abstain. It takes the pressure off the government, although the First Minister has made clear he still wants to build a broader agreement and not be reliant on the Greens. In response to a question from my colleague, Willie Rennie last week, John Swinney confirmed that his ‘door remains open’, allowing time for the shortfall in ferry funding to be made up as well as progress in various other areas, including support for business.

Last week also saw me take up with Ministers once again the issue of childcare provision in the islands. When I raised this at Education Questions last summer, the Minister, Natalie Don-Innes acknowledged the specific challenges facing rural and island communities. Since then, as my postbag testifies, the situation locally has scarcely improved.

Recruitment and retention of staff and the need to expand the number of registered childminders remain fundamental to making progress on this vital issue. And the situation is serious. The current lack of access to childcare provision is impacting on the ability of parents to return to work, with knock on consequences for local businesses as well as key services delivered by the public and third sector.

The Minister assured me that work was underway with Highlands & Islands to better understand the extent and nature of the problems affecting communities like Orkney. She also confirmed that OIC is participating in the Scottish Childminding Association’s programme aimed at improving the support and incentives for childminders in the islands. I get the sense that none of this work is likely to bear dividends in the short term, but delivery of early learning and childcare is of such strategic importance that a sustainable solution must be found.

In the more immediate future, I am looking forward to hosting the annual Holyrood reception for the British Ports Association and UK Chamber of Shipping. A staple in the parliamentary calendar for well over a decade now, the reception is always well attended by industry representatives, partner organisations and MSPs from all parties and all parts of Scotland. Indeed, it epitomises the extent to which the maritime sector touches on communities across the country, even the most landlocked.

There are undoubtedly challenges ahead for the sector, as well as opportunities. For me, though, the maritime priority for 2025 is undoubtedly ensuring progress is made towards procuring new vessels for Orkney’s internal ferry services. That would certainly make 2025 a year to remember.